VICTORY! Lawfare Project and #EndJewHatred movement cause Zoom to cancel Leila Khaled webinar

This evening, Zoom Video Conferencing informed The Lawfare Project of its decision to deny use of Zoom's service for a webinar featuring Leila Khaled, a leading member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. The webinar—which was being hosted by San Francisco State University (SFSU) and, appallingly, supported by SFSU President Lynn Mahoney—was scheduled to be held tomorrow via Zoom.

Zoom's correct (and lawful) decision was brought about by The Lawfare Project's legal efforts and significant public pressure from #EndJewHatred, a new grassroots Jewish civil rights movement barely two weeks old.

The Lawfare Project initially sent a letter to Zoom early last week warning that, by knowingly permitting Khaled to use its platform to communicate directly to U.S. college students, Zoom would risk exposure to criminal liability under 18 U.S.C. § 2339B, which makes it unlawful to provide material support or resources to a foreign terrorist organization. Today, #EndJewHatred took direct action in San Jose, CA, staging a protest against Zoom and SFSU for knowingly supporting terrorism and enabling anti-Semitism. After intensive dialogue with Zoom officials over the past two days, Zoom issued the following statement to The Lawfare Project:

“Zoom is committed to supporting the open exchange of ideas and conversations, subject to certain limitations contained in our Terms of Service, including those related to user compliance with applicable U.S. export control, sanctions, and anti-terrorism laws. In light of the speaker’s reported affiliation or membership in a U.S. designated foreign terrorist organization, and SFSU’s inability to confirm otherwise, we determined the meeting is in violation of Zoom’s Terms of Service and told SFSU they may not use Zoom for this particular event."

Thanks to the efforts of The Lawfare Project and the #EndJewHatred movement, all communications platforms have been put on notice: block terrorism and cancel anti-Semitism, or you will be canceled. Today, we see the power of minority communities standing together.